A DISGRACE. An embarrassment. A disappointment. All three have been used to describe Wasps' 48-17 defeat by Leicester last week - not by the fans but the players themselves.

Hardly the form of champions, but scrum-half Rob Howley vows Wasps will put it all behind them in their must-win Premiership semi-final clash with Northampton this afternoon.

Howley, who sat out training all week to get himself fit for today's game, admits the semi-final is the start of three weeks that could make or break Wasps' season.

With a Heineken Cup final to follow next week and possibly a Premiership final against Bath the week after, it's an almighty end to a season in which Wasps have led the way for English clubs to follow.

They have been described as the best club side in the world and with such a tag, it is no wonder Howley insists the last two weeks have only been a blip.

Howley, 33, said: "The defeat by Leicester really hurt our pride and I think we didn't realise how much the Munster game had taken out of us both physically and mentally .

"But after having Joe (Worsley) and Simon (Shaw) sit out against Leicester, we now have them back for Northampton so we can get back to business as usual.

"One thing about Wasps is that when we've gone into must-win games we've won them.

"The self-belief is amazing and we know that when we get it right not many teams can live with us. We just have to make sure we get it right today."

When the season is over Howley, with 14 other Wasps players and staff, will be cycling, trekking and kayaking 250km through Iceland in aid of the National Deaf Children's Society.

The Fire and Ice Challenge aims to raise more than #50,000 for the charity, but Howley reckons it will be just the icing on the cake after a season of success.

He added: "Hopefully it will just cement that team spirit among the players."